Anything but that, Mr.Harper." "Even possible shame ?" "How, shame ?" "Some reason very strong and very vital must underlie her conduct if what we suspect is true, and she has not only been willing to subject you and herself to a seeming separation by death, but to burden herself with the additional misery of being obliged to assume a personality cumbered by such a drawback to happiness and even common social intercourse as this of the supposed Anitra." "You mean her deafness ?" "I mean that, yes.

What could Mrs.Ransom's motive be (if the woman sleeping yonder is Mrs.Ransom) for so tremendous a sacrifice as this you ascribe to her?
The rescue of her sister from some impending calamity?
That would argue a love of long standing and of superhuman force; one far transcending even her natural affection for the husband to whom she has just given her hand.

Such a love under such circumstances is not possible.

She has known this long lost sister for a few days only.

Her sense of duty towards her, even her compassion for one so unfortunate, might lead her to risk much, but not so much as that.